Primary Navigation

Re: [CF] hitch hiking

Simon, I used to hitchhike when I was a young teenager in WA state and in my very late teens in NY state. When I drove, I picked up hitchhikers. The most

Message 1 of 23
, May 2, 2006

0 Attachment

Simon,

I used to hitchhike when I was a young teenager in WA state and in my
very late teens in NY state. When I drove, I picked up hitchhikers.
The most interesting hitchhiker I picked up was a circus performer. He
gave me a picture of one of his "acts" (piercing his face through both
cheeks with a hanger). St. Giles is his name. I once picked up some
hippies near Woodstock who left the gallons of bottled water they had
walked into town to buy in my car. I think I realized it the next day
and left the water where I dropped them off. Those days are filed away
with the many other stupid things I did and lived to talk about.

Rachel

On 5/2/06, Simon Norton <S.Norton@...> wrote:
> I suspect that hitch hiking went out of fashion because of the perception of
> risk among both hitch hikers and motorists who pick them up.
>
> As a thought experiment, I have often wondered what would happen if motorists
> had a legal obligation to stop for hitch hikers. Under a utilitarian
> calculation, the time taken by the motorist to stop is so much less than the
> time saved by the hitch hiker when he/she gets a lift that it is a clear plus
> for society.
>
> The above condition is the only situation in which I would even contemplate
> hitch hiking as a substitute for rural public transport. Otherwise I would be
> concerned that it might undermine its viability. What I'd really like would be a
> "gentleman's agreement" (not of course restricted to the male sex) that people
> only hitch hiked when they were in some form of difficulty (e.g. if they'd gone
> walking, lost their way and missed the last bus back).
>
> Simon Norton
>
>
>
> Problem? Email: CarFree-owners@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>
>
>

similar articles have been written about the mysterious
healthiness of the French despite their croissants, cafe
au lait, gateaux, rich sauces, etc. no mention of
urban France having excellent bus and rail, and rural France
not being Walmartised and carburbified.

I am wondering if it may be that Americans are more apt to see themself as sick and thus self report it. I would like to see more hard data such as number of

Message 5 of 23
, May 3, 2006

0 Attachment

I am wondering if it may be that Americans are more apt to see themself
as sick and thus self report it. I would like to see more hard data
such as number of people in the helth care system with a diagnoses
rather that just a self report

whistling_lass

Well, we have better teeth, nah, nah. :-) Marcy

Message 6 of 23
, May 3, 2006

0 Attachment

Well, we have better teeth, nah, nah. :-)

Marcy

Bling Williams

whistling_lass wrote: Well, we have better teeth, nah, nah. :-) Marcy Oh, thats catching on over here When I were a teenager it was

Oh, thats catching on over here When I were a teenager it was very rare to see anyone with a teeth brace. I was teased non-stop. Now my daughter is 14 its the in thing.
Did you ever see The Onion story 'Dentists can't get nations teeth any darned whiter'? Very funny.
We're turning into you! Orange poeple with super white teeth! Eek. And SUV's. Argh.
We'll all be talking funny next ;-)

---------------------------------
Blab-away for as little as 1¢/min. Make PC-to-Phone Calls using Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bling Williams

There is that. I think Americans are more inclined to go to the doctors over anything than we are. I had friends taking kids for sore throats! But didn t that

Message 8 of 23
, May 4, 2006

0 Attachment

There is that. I think Americans are more inclined to go to the doctors over anything than we are. I had friends taking kids for sore throats!
But didn't that data come from levels of Diabetes?
I don't think Brits have long before we get the same sort of figures. We now have 1 in4 kids as overweight or obese. Junk food and cars are probably to blame. So many people drive their kids to school and wont let them out to play. Fear of cars and strangers keeps these kids indoors.
And fat kids oftengrow up into unhealthy adults :-(
I think we are the unhealthiest nation in Europe. Even beating the french who all smoke like chimneys and drink like fishes ;-)

S

renegadebuddhacoach <renegadebuddhacoach@...> wrote:
I am wondering if it may be that Americans are more apt to see themself
as sick and thus self report it. I would like to see more hard data
such as number of people in the helth care system with a diagnoses
rather that just a self report

---------------------------------
Talk is cheap. Use Yahoo! Messenger to make PC-to-Phone calls. Great rates starting at 1¢/min.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Whitney Turner

According to a previous resident of Alaska, it s a requirement up there.

Message 9 of 23
, May 8, 2006

0 Attachment

According to a previous resident of Alaska, it's a requirement up there.

At 04:38 PM 5/2/2006, Simon Norton wrote:

>I suspect that hitch hiking went out of fashion because of the perception of
>risk among both hitch hikers and motorists who pick them up.
>
>As a thought experiment, I have often wondered what would happen if motorists
>had a legal obligation to stop for hitch hikers. Under a utilitarian
>calculation, the time taken by the motorist to stop is so much less than the
>time saved by the hitch hiker when he/she gets a lift that it is a clear plus
>for society.

Paul Cooley

I just hitch-hiked down from the mountains after a backpacking trip. It was the fourth time in my forty years that I tried it, and it always feels very weird

Message 10 of 23
, May 27, 2006

0 Attachment

I just hitch-hiked down from the mountains after a backpacking trip.
It was the fourth time in my forty years that I tried it, and it always
feels very weird to me to walk backwards down the road sticking out my
thumb. But it only took about fifteen minutes before someone stopped
and gave me a ride. Perhaps coming down from a mountain is a
specialized situation, but my perception is that it is probably easier
to hitch-hike than one might think.

I'd have to say, though, that I would be nervous the entire time if I
were trying to cross the country that way. I like to rant against our
fear-based society, but that doesn't mean that some of that particular
aspect of our culture hasn't seeped in.

> According to a previous resident of Alaska, it's a requirement up
> there.
>
> At 04:38 PM 5/2/2006, Simon Norton wrote:
>> I suspect that hitch hiking went out of fashion because of the
>> perception of
>> risk among both hitch hikers and motorists who pick them up.
>>
>> As a thought experiment, I have often wondered what would happen if
>> motorists
>> had a legal obligation to stop for hitch hikers. Under a utilitarian
>> calculation, the time taken by the motorist to stop is so much less
>> than the
>> time saved by the hitch hiker when he/she gets a lift that it is a
>> clear plus
>> for society.
>
>
>
>
> Problem? Email: CarFree-owners@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

Simon Baddeley

Good for you but I agree about the seeping in of fear and, worse, the possibility that it is reasonable, especially as the diminished number of hitchhikers and

Message 11 of 23
, May 27, 2006

0 Attachment

Good for you but I agree about the seeping in of fear and, worse, the
possibility that it is reasonable, especially as the diminished number of
hitchhikers and pickers up may have left a larger complement of predators of
both kinds in the pool that remains. You have got to be a bit different to
hitch and give hitches and this means some exceptional good and some
exceptionally bad but not the greater complement of the population who might
once have taken the phenomenon of hitchhiking entirely for granted. Now your
motives will be a source of curiosity to all and sundry including the
police and may well be misconstrued as having more to do with giving and
accepting rides. Not for nothing do we use the phrase ³taken for a ride² in
the way we do. If we have an energy crisis or major breakdown of public
transport in cities and the insurance liability issues could be sorted
giving and seeking rides could swiftly become acceptable ­ in the meantime I
will cycle and walk at every opportunity. S

I just hitch-hiked down from the mountains after a backpacking trip.
It was the fourth time in my forty years that I tried it, and it always
feels very weird to me to walk backwards down the road sticking out my
thumb. But it only took about fifteen minutes before someone stopped
and gave me a ride. Perhaps coming down from a mountain is a
specialized situation, but my perception is that it is probably easier
to hitch-hike than one might think.

I'd have to say, though, that I would be nervous the entire time if I
were trying to cross the country that way. I like to rant against our
fear-based society, but that doesn't mean that some of that particular
aspect of our culture hasn't seeped in.

> According to a previous resident of Alaska, it's a requirement up
> there.
>
> At 04:38 PM 5/2/2006, Simon Norton wrote:
>> I suspect that hitch hiking went out of fashion because of the
>> perception of
>> risk among both hitch hikers and motorists who pick them up.
>>
>> As a thought experiment, I have often wondered what would happen if
>> motorists
>> had a legal obligation to stop for hitch hikers. Under a utilitarian
>> calculation, the time taken by the motorist to stop is so much less
>> than the
>> time saved by the hitch hiker when he/she gets a lift that it is a
>> clear plus
>> for society.
>
>

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bling Williams

I have hitched many times but only when my partner has been with me. I d never do it alone. Shyrley Paul Cooley wrote: I just

Message 12 of 23
, May 28, 2006

0 Attachment

I have hitched many times but only when my partner has been with me. I'd never do it alone.

Shyrley

Paul Cooley <pcooley@...> wrote:
I just hitch-hiked down from the mountains after a backpacking trip.
It was the fourth time in my forty years that I tried it, and it always
feels very weird to me to walk backwards down the road sticking out my
thumb. But it only took about fifteen minutes before someone stopped
and gave me a ride. Perhaps coming down from a mountain is a
specialized situation, but my perception is that it is probably easier
to hitch-hike than one might think.

I'd have to say, though, that I would be nervous the entire time if I
were trying to cross the country that way. I like to rant against our
fear-based society, but that doesn't mean that some of that particular
aspect of our culture hasn't seeped in.

> According to a previous resident of Alaska, it's a requirement up
> there.
>
> At 04:38 PM 5/2/2006, Simon Norton wrote:
>> I suspect that hitch hiking went out of fashion because of the
>> perception of
>> risk among both hitch hikers and motorists who pick them up.
>>
>> As a thought experiment, I have often wondered what would happen if
>> motorists
>> had a legal obligation to stop for hitch hikers. Under a utilitarian
>> calculation, the time taken by the motorist to stop is so much less
>> than the
>> time saved by the hitch hiker when he/she gets a lift that it is a
>> clear plus
>> for society.
>
>
>
>
> Problem? Email: CarFree-owners@yahoogroups.com
>
> Yahoo! Groups Links
>
>
>
>
>

---------------------------------
Ring'em or ping'em. Make PC-to-phone calls as low as 1¢/min with Yahoo! Messenger with Voice.

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

whistling_lass

I remember being specifically taught both things: don t hitchhike, b/c an axe murderer or rapist might pick you up, and don t pick up a hitchhiker, b/c he

Message 13 of 23
, May 28, 2006

0 Attachment

I remember being specifically taught both things: don't hitchhike, b/c
an axe murderer or rapist might pick you up, and don't pick up a
hitchhiker, b/c he might be an axe murderer or rapist.

I wonder, though, since it's basically "common safety knowledge" to
NOT hitch rides and to NOT pick up hitchers, might that not leave
people more vulnerable? In other words, if someone was of a criminal
bent, they might be more inclined to ply their trade on a hitchhiker,
using the rationalization, "Well, if this guy is too stupid to know
you're not supposed to thumb a ride, he deserves to be mutilated."

I could've sworn that I heard that it was more common, and considered
fairly safe, to hitchhike in continental Europe. Anyone know anything
about that?

>I remember being specifically taught both things: don't hitchhike,
> b/c an axe murderer or rapist might pick you up, and don't pick up a
>hitchhiker, b/c he might be an axe murderer or rapist.

snip snip snip snip

William Volk

In 1972 after an attempted trans-Canada bike ride ended in Ottawa with a car hitting from behind me as I avoided a ditch dug in the roadway, I ended up

Message 15 of 23
, May 28, 2006

0 Attachment

In 1972 after an attempted trans-Canada bike ride ended in Ottawa with a car
hitting from behind me as I avoided a ditch dug in the roadway, I ended up
hitchhiking that summer across Canada and back across the USA. The Canadian
youth hostel system was excellent, I came back across the USA in about 4
days (one ride from California to Detroit nonstop at high speed).

I was 15, abet taller than six foot packing 220lbs 15 ... Even so there were
some tense moments involving some motorcycle gangs.

But still, I can't imagine kids doing that today.

Bill

Simon Norton

Surely one of the most cogent reasons for hitch hiking is in case of emergency. Suppose, for example, one s walking in the countryside, loses one s way and

Message 16 of 23
, May 30, 2006

0 Attachment

Surely one of the most cogent reasons for hitch hiking is in case of emergency.
Suppose, for example, one's walking in the countryside, loses one's way and
misses the last bus back. Or suppose one hurts oneself -- not badly enough to
need hospital treatment, but badly enough to make it painful to walk further
than necessary to reach the bus stop.

There should be a way for people in this and similar situations to communicate
their plight to motorists who might be willing to offer them a lift if they were
aware of the situation, but would be less willing to help out someone who hitch
hikes because they want to save money on bus or train fares.

As for danger to the driver, surely he/she can tell whether the hitch hiker is a
possible axe murderer -- it's surely hard to conceal an axe ?

Simon Norton

Simon Baddeley

II don¹t know, Simon What car drivers really need in these dangerous times is an in-car pack containing a collapsible security gate and x-ray scanner that can

Message 17 of 23
, May 30, 2006

0 Attachment

II don¹t know, Simon

What car drivers really need in these dangerous times is an in-car pack
containing a collapsible security gate and x-ray scanner that can be erected
at the road side, requiring a hitcher to remove such things as keys, nail
files, coin, mobiles and so on, placing them on a conveyor belt. Once the
hitcher has passed through the gate they must allow themselves to be lightly
patted down all over before entering the car.

Any axes and other sharp objects would have to be discarded as a condition
of carriage or stored by the driver for the duration of the ride in a
separate compartment in the car. The hitcher could prepare an inventory to
be co-signed by driver and hitcher and each could then tick-box these on
completion of the ride prior to handing them back to their owner, or drivers
could carry a portable carousel onto which they could hurl all such items.

Safe items could be carried in the car by the hitcher as hand baggage. These
need to be agreed and perhaps posted on the doors of new cars,

It might also be possible to have a protective screen installed in new cars
between the driver and the hitcher with intercom connection for emergencies,
and with a number of automatic taped welcome notes, safety instructions in
the unlikely event the car is involved in a collision and thanks at a choice
of farewells on completion of the hitch. It would speed things up if hikers
could be issued with a ³boarding card² prior to hitching which could be
checked against a data base to which the drivers has access ­ subject
obviously current to data protection and freedom of information legislation.

In the early stages of a transaction of this kind, after the car has
stopped, the driver with all windows closed and doors locked, could request
the hitcher via a car megaphone to stand back from the vehicle with their
hands held away from their sides. Once they have assumed a safe posture they
can be politely informed about the normal security procedures the driver
will be following. If they agree to these, they should be asked to walk far
enough from the car while the driver erects the gate and x-ray safely. This
procedure could be quickly introduced with pressure from insurance companies
ensuring that if a hitcher then does kill the driver with an axe, unless it
is made of folding plastic, no insurance will be paid to relatives.

It goes without saying that remarks by the hitcher such as ³I could be an
axe murderer² or non-verbal ironical ³psycho gestures² will not be ignored
as pleasantries, but treated as sufficient cause for a driver to pack their
security system and drive off leaving such irresponsible would-be hitchers
standing by the road. Their baggage if already checked in will be forfeit.

I think that for this system to work an equivalent system by which the
hitcher can assess the character of their driver before they accept a lift
needs to exist. Pocket DNA testing kit, fingerprint analysis ...??

"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism
is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express
sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat...or a prostitute."
Rebecca West quotes (English Writer, 1892-1983)
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

Bling Williams

I cycled into town yesterday using the Bristol/Bath cycling track. It passes my road and heads into town for 5 glorious traffic free miles. But gosh, it was

Message 19 of 23
, Jun 9, 2006

0 Attachment

I cycled into town yesterday using the Bristol/Bath cycling track. It passes my road and heads into town for 5 glorious traffic free miles.
But gosh, it was crowded. I left at 5.30, commuting time and must have counted hundreds of cyclists coming the other way (plus people walking from work).
There were idiots however, who felt the need to cycle at 20 mph+ (there's a speed limit of 15) and weave in and out of other cyclists and pedestrians, even overtaking slower bikes into oncoming cyclists. Those guys should bog off to the roads if they want to speed. All of them were young males (the sort who speed cars too. What is it about males and speed?)
But it was great seeing how many cyclists there were and calculatng how many cars that there weren't!
Probably a good thing. I came back along the roads - the path is full of insects and I'd eaten a fair few and was full - and th roads were totally gridlocked. Lots of hot bothered motorists sitting in hot bothered cars. Rush hour in hot sun isn't fun. Aggressive drivers were beeping horns, suddeny turning out of the queues with no thought for checking their mirrors, getting irate on stretches where they could go faster yet a cyclist was in the way. I got sworn at, cut up and had a beer can thrown at my head. Sigh.
This weekend is Englands first World Cup game. The roads will be empty during the match but afterwards, at 5 I imagine it will be drunken boy racers so I ain't going anywhere. Cycling past pubs of a summer evening is an ordeal. Lots of drunken blokes either shouting sexually explicit stuff or effing at me for holding up traffic. There's 15 on my route home. So Saturday evening is out. Half the males in the country will be out on th streets, tanked to the eyeballs! Last weekend, the first hot one of the summer, had the young blokes from the flats opposite start a riot with the local Asian gang. Lots of police etc etc. They sit out on the stairway with the stereo pounding out across the neighbourhood :-(

Thats my summer waffle.
:-)

Shyrley

"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism
is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express
sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat...or a prostitute."
Rebecca West quotes (English Writer, 1892-1983)
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Sounds very familiar. Those 'wanna be lance' racers
grab the lycra suits, don their vintage 10-speeds and
annoy walkers, skaters, joggers, slower cyclists, and
even car drivers when taking over lanes. It is such a
comical dance; especially on a crowded weekend when
the temparature is in the triple digits inland so
thousands of peoplle come to the coast for the cool
weather.

I never could figure this behavior out. Comedy to
watch the completely serious pelotons of 'plastic'
cyclists and watch tourists reactions.

> There were idiots however, who felt the need to
> cycle at 20 mph+ (there's a speed limit of 15) and
> weave in and out of other cyclists and pedestrians,
> even overtaking slower bikes into oncoming cyclists.
> Those guys should bog off to the roads if they want
> to speed. All of them were young males (the sort who
> speed cars too. What is it about males and speed?)

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

Bling Williams

Yep, all lycra and wrap around shades. It seems to go with the whole get out of my way as I go fast with no regard for others type of cycling. I m sure

Message 21 of 23
, Jun 10, 2006

0 Attachment

Yep, all lycra and wrap around shades. It seems to go with the whole 'get out of my way as I go fast' with no regard for others type of cycling.
I'm sure there are nice guys who wear lycra and are considerate but this lot gice cyclists a bad name.

Shyrley

Chris Jordan <eco_milage_buster_2005@...> wrote:
Sounds very familiar. Those 'wanna be lance' racers
grab the lycra suits, don their vintage 10-speeds and
annoy walkers, skaters, joggers, slower cyclists, and
even car drivers when taking over lanes. It is such a
comical dance; especially on a crowded weekend when
the temparature is in the triple digits inland so
thousands of peoplle come to the coast for the cool
weather.

I never could figure this behavior out. Comedy to
watch the completely serious pelotons of 'plastic'
cyclists and watch tourists reactions.

> There were idiots however, who felt the need to
> cycle at 20 mph+ (there's a speed limit of 15) and
> weave in and out of other cyclists and pedestrians,
> even overtaking slower bikes into oncoming cyclists.
> Those guys should bog off to the roads if they want
> to speed. All of them were young males (the sort who
> speed cars too. What is it about males and speed?)

__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

"I myself have never been able to find out precisely what feminism
is; I only know that people call me a feminist whenever I express
sentiments that differentiate me from a doormat...or a prostitute."
Rebecca West quotes (English Writer, 1892-1983)
__________________________________________________
Do You Yahoo!?
Tired of spam? Yahoo! Mail has the best spam protection around http://mail.yahoo.com

[Non-text portions of this message have been removed]

whistling_lass

... get out of my way as I go fast with no regard for others type of cycling. That s why I cringe when people talk about getting rid of cars altogether. I

>
> Yep, all lycra and wrap around shades. It seems to go with the whole

'get out of my way as I go fast' with no regard for others type of
cycling.

That's why I cringe when people talk about getting rid of cars
altogether. I don't want those jerks riding bikes near me. It's bad
enough when they're in cars. When they're in cars, they're wolves,
and I can avoid them. When they're on bikes, they're like wolves in
sheep's clothing, and they're more dangerous, I think.

Marcy

Your message has been successfully submitted and would be delivered to recipients shortly.